Ebony Buckley had three hits including a home run to pace Union’s hit parade Saturday at Northeast Park.

    Eight of Union’s nine starters had a hit Saturday in the Yellowjackets’ 15-0 run-rule win against host Meridian at the MHS Fast-Pitch Festival. In all, Union had 12 hits in the four innings, while taking advantage of four MHS errors as well.

    The Yellowjackets got started in a hurry as they sent 11 to the plate in the first inning, scoring six times. However, most of that damage came with two outs. Following a Casey Cherry leadoff single, MHS’ Emily Ware retired Katie Vance on a lineout and after walking Hayley Stephens, Buckley hit into a fielder’s choice. The next six Yellowjackets reached base, though, including Delaina Wilson’s RBI double, Burton’s RBI single and Pender’s three-run double.

    Union batted around again in the second, with Buckley, Burton and Vance all singling. MHS committed two errors in the frame, letting three runs score.

    After a scoreless third — Union stranded Buckley at third and Burton at second — the Yellowjackets scored four more in the fourth. There, Stephens singled to score two and then Buckley launched a two-run home to left-center to make it 15-0.

    And with that, Union’s Brett Whitlock went back to work to finish it off. After a perfect first three innings, Alliejah Echols reached to open the fourth and Kelly Offenberger reached on an error. However, Whitlock escaped the jam by retiring Angel Hopson and getting Toniziun Ball to ground out with Echols then getting nabbed at the plate to end it.